classes as objects

[kroiz]

hi
I want learn about this thing I see in the following example
What I don't understand is the use of the classes as though they were objects to pass to the array.

//All we do here is assemble the list of WizardPage subclasses we
//want to show:
Class[] pages = new Class[] {
    AnimalTypePage.class,
    LocomotionPage.class,
    OtherAttributesPage.class,
    FinalPage.class
};
        
//Use the utility method to compose a Wizard
Wizard wizard = WizardPage.createWizard(pages, WizardResultProducer.NO_OP);

I can not even name it so could not find info about it in google.
Thank you.

[Tolls]

hi
I want learn about this thing I see in the following example
What I don't understand is the use of the classes as though they were objects to pass to the array.

//All we do here is assemble the list of WizardPage subclasses we
//want to show:
Class[] pages = new Class[] {
    AnimalTypePage.class,
    LocomotionPage.class,
    OtherAttributesPage.class,
    FinalPage.class
};
        
//Use the utility method to compose a Wizard
Wizard wizard = WizardPage.createWizard(pages, WizardResultProducer.NO_OP);

I can not even name it so could not find info about it in google.
Thank you.

Consider it a shorthand for Class.forName() method. It's a way of easily getting the Class object representing that class name.

[kroiz]

Does it creates an object of the class, like an instance of it?
In the example above, the function createWizard gets an array of such classes, can you help me understand how is that could be useful instead of plain instances?
does it has anything to do with reflection?

[fxRichard]

It has everything to do with reflection :) when getting an instance of a Class object you are NOT getting an instance of that particular class. For instance:

   Class stringClass = String.class;
   String someString = "someString";

The difference is the object stringClass is the actual representation of the String class whereas someString IS an implementation of the String class. What this means is the object stringClass will allow you to do things like find out what Fields the String class has for instance:

   Field[] fields = stringClass.getDeclaredFields();

This allows you the capability to work with classes you know nothing about at runtime. Reflection is pretty powerful and fun once you learn it's uses :) Hopefully this example did not confuse you more.

[kroiz]

ohhhhhh aaaaahhhh
Now I get it!
I was once asked about it in a job interview. :confused: I did not know what it was, so I got home and read about it and thought: what a useless piece of mechanism - I spent years programming in C++ without earing of it.
I was just disgruntled because I did not know. :D
I understand its usefulness now.

In the Wizard API project, I guess it is used for being able to observe the wizard's pages for changes in their fields.

Thank you all, very very much for taking the time to help me.
Have a great day.